Nauru’s refusal of access to detention centre another attempt to hide conditions

Nauru’s refusal to grant Amnesty International access to its Australian-run asylum seeker detention centre appears to be the latest attempt to avoid public scrutiny of the treatment of asylum seekers there.

The Nauru government has declined Amnesty International’s request to visit the detention centre, based on "the current circumstances and incredibly busy time," despite the organization’s suggestion of alternative dates.

This latest obstruction follows Nauru reneging earlier this month on allowing a team of UN human rights observers to access the centre, citing "practical difficulties."

In February 2014, the cost of visas for journalists visiting Nauru was increased from AUD $200 to $8,000.

"Nauru’s refusals to allow an independent review of the conditions in the detention centre are another damning development in Australia’s offshore asylum processing system," said Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.

"Amnesty International has documented human rights abuses against asylum seekers in the Nauru detention centre. Instead of blocking independent oversight, Australia and Nauru should do everything they can to facilitate visits from the UN and others aimed at helping to improve the situation."

There have been recent news reports about the discovery of an unexploded artillery shell in an area of the detention centre that houses children and families, as well as allegations that guards at the centre have assaulted children, raising further concerns about the safety of asylum seekers there.

"Since July last year, when Australia began transferring the current population of refugees to Nauru, not a single asylum seeker has received a refugee status decision and there is still no clarity about where or when they will be resettled.

"They continue to live in legal limbo, which adds to the already enormous psychological strain of being an asylum seeker," said Rupert Abbott.

Amnesty International has serious concerns about the human rights of asylum seekers in Australia’s offshore detention facilities, including Nauru.

An Amnesty International report in November 2012 found that asylum seekers in the Nauru detention centre were living in cramped conditions, suffered from both physical and mental ailments, and routinely had their human rights violated.

Similarly, in November 2013, Amnesty International visited the Australian-run detention centre on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island and consequently reported that the deliberately harsh, humiliating conditions at the facility were designed to pressure asylum seekers to return to their country of origin, regardless of whether or not they were refugees.

Recent news reports suggest that Australia may now be pursuing an agreement with Cambodia to resettle asylum seekers there.

"Nauru should allow independent oversight of the detention centre," said Rupert Abbott.

"Australia must halt transfers of asylum seekers to Nauru and elsewhere, end offshore processing and offshore detention of asylum seekers, and in the meantime immediately process the requests of those now held on the island and provide safe, stable and prompt resettlement options."